steering wheel 10mm hex stripped

[EV Guru]

10 mm hex stuck won’t break loose from steering wheel. The bolt is now stripped. Any suggestions?

 

[MeBeetle]

EZ-out, or a tap/die...

 

[DP26]

May be thread locked. If so, heat the tool first, and that will usually resolve the stuck issue.

 

[J Neptune]

As others mentioned, tap it off. What were you doing on the steering wheel?

 

[240vPlug]

Good suggestions. Hey at least the bolt is stuck and not loose right?

 

[nate704]

Just put it back together use it?

 

[fiehlsport]

The head is stripped, or the bolt threads are stripped? Pics...

 

[TJ-Tassie]

I have the same problem, with a Model 3 made by China, this is the photo before drilling to use an EZ tap/bolt extractor bit, with a loose guarantee that it can handle a high level of torque, to then have it snap off in the hole that was drilled. Broke off flush, and with another form of extractor on order, the question is, can I drill a larger hole to bore out the ez tap and try again with a higher gauge extractor?


I’ve got a replacement bolt on hand, if I get ever get the current bolt out.

 

[Dangerous Fish]

I had the same problem with my 2019 M3P (built in Fremont). Having looked at a few YT videos, it looked like it should loosen quite easily but mine was a complete SOB to get out and when I did I found it had a lot of threadlock applied at some point. Other M3s of the same year didn't seem to have threadlock on that bolt but my steering column had been replaced due to a faulty motor and I think the SC put the new bolt in with too much threadlock on it as there had been a couple of reports at the time of steering wheels coming loose (!).

I almost rounded the hex keyway but hammered in an oversized bit and managed to eventually get it out. Heat didn;t make much difference when i tried. It needed a very long breaker bar and the steering on full right lock. Not sure what type of exraction method will be best but I'd advise seeking professional advice as it could be an expensive repair if it goes really wrong!

 

[kaizen099]

Why are you trying to remove your steering wheel?

 

[TJ-Tassie]

Why are you trying to remove your steering wheel?

Yes trying to remove the current steering wheel to be replaced with a yoke.

I’m now looking for who can provide some professional assistance, but that didn’t stop me making a third attempt which got very close using a spline socket bit. The regular extractor bit was useless.

I’m also waiting for a different set of bits with a different profile. It’s the last thing I can think of trying.

 

[Scubamikey]

dumb question.. reverse threads ?

 

[TJ-Tassie]

dumb question.. reverse threads ?

Nothing I’ve read indicates that, and the replacement bolt I ordered confirmed that. So I’ve been trying to go counter clockwise to remove it.

It’s a good question and since you flagged it, I’m going to go double check that bolt, making sure there is no difference because it’s a right hand drive model.

 

[Dangerous Fish]

Nothing I’ve read indicates that, and the replacement bolt I ordered confirmed that. So I’ve been trying to go counter clockwise to remove it.

It’s a good question and since you flagged it, I’m going to go double check that bolt, making sure there is no difference because it’s a right hand drive model.

I can confirm It's a normal (right hand) thread.

 

[ngng]

Third time is definitely not the charm. You are making it worse every attempt. Take it to somebody who knows what they're doing and stop before you break off hardended tooling in and REALLY make it worse.